What is a utility model, and does the US have one? (Utility model vs patent)
Reviewed by
Dominic Davies, patent attorney (20+ years)
· Last reviewed
September 7, 2026
A utility model is a faster, cheaper, shorter-term patent alternative available in countries like Germany, China and Japan, but the US has no direct equivalent. US inventors seeking similar speed typically use a provisional application or the USPTO's Track One prioritised examination programme instead.
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